Is Oatmeal safe for my Chihuahua?

Question
Patti,
Hello there! I am the proud mama of a sweet, two year old tiny ( and I do mean tiny; she weighs in at 2.9 lbs) Chihuahua baby girl named Luna. Recently, Miss Luna had to visit the vet and was diagnosed with enlarged anal glands which thusly resulted in her tonsillitis. Apparently she was licking back there to relieve some of the pressure and gave herself a nasty little infection. At any rate, she is on antibiotics and is feeling much better, however I am still wondering about something:
The vet mentioned that her poop needed to be "bulked up" with more fiber, which would help keep her glands clear,and he suggested canned pumpkin mixed with her food. I was curious if oatmeal( the kind that I cook on the stovetop, not the instant kind) would do the same thing?
I make oatmeal for  myself in the mornings, and I was wondering if I could share a little with Luna to save some time in my routine.

Thanks for any advice you can offer me!
Amy

Answer
Hi Amy,

Yes, cooked oatmeal would be a fine substitute for canned pumpkin. Oatmeal is fiber rich food, though cooking it with water rather than milk would be best for your dog.

Other ways to add fiber to your dog's diet:

Share an apple with her! Apple is high in fiber and other nutrients. Remove the seeds and core, apple seeds contain small amounts of cyanide which can be harmful to dogs.

If you make brown rice for a family meal and save leftovers for your dog. Brown rice has three times the fiber of white rice. Spoon a little brown rice as a topper onto you dog's regular diet.

Mix healthy vegetables in your dog's food, or use them as treats. Many dogs love carrot sticks, peas or green beans.

Be careful when adding fiber. A little is good, too much is bad. It takes only a small amount of fiber with regular food to help a dog. If your dog poops a lot or develops loose stools, cut back on the fiber. For a tiny dog like Luna, try starting her out with as little as 1/2 teaspoon of whichever fiber rich food you choose (working up to twice a day if she tolerates it). You you might be able to increase up to a full teaspoon.

Fiber rich foods can makes a dog have more gas. Too much gas can be painful for a dog, but an extra walk or two can often help work out the flatulence.

I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck,

Patti